2015 Archive

• ILCA Yearbook Publication - Moved to Every 4 Years
  Over the past year the Executive Committee has reviewed the different media the Class uses to communicate with its membership and the public. This has been a rapidly changing landscape with the addition of email, the website, Facebook, Twitter, streaming video and more. When you add the Yearbook, Flashes, mail and phone communication, the burden placed on the Executive Secretary, Laura Jeffers, is overwhelming. We seek a compromise that best utilizes our limited time and financial resources.
  
  From survey responses and communication with members, we have learned the website is clearly our most important tool for connecting with ILCA members and the public. We will strive to keep its content current, interesting and informative. Unfortunately, we are going to have to cut back in other areas.
  
  The yearbook is a Class tradition and provides a historical record. Recognition of our history, most importantly, the contributions of ILCA members who came before us, is a big part of what makes our Class strong. The yearbook is also very expensive to produce in terms of hours spent collecting content, doing layout and printing costs. The number of members who elect to receive a printed yearbook is also quite low.
  
  After much consideration, the Executive Committee has decided to start publishing the yearbook on a four year cycle. We think this will allow us to focus on web based communication and more timely quarterly "Flashes" while still keeping the historical record provided by the yearbook. Most of the content that is traditionally in the yearbook is also available online. You might be surprised by how much information is hidden on the ILCA site. Part of our plan is show members how to use and access all of the website features. Although we have a paid Executive Secretary, the ILCA is at its heart a volunteer organization. We are only as strong as the efforts put in by our members. This also applies to our media. Please continue to submit regatta reports, go-fast articles, pictures, videos and stories about the people who make our Class great. 
  
  Sincerely,
  Todd Wake, ILCA Secretary
  
  
• 5th Executive Committee Member Elected: Valerie Tardif-Holly
  Valerie is from Beaconsfiled, a suburb of Montreal in the province of Québec in Canada. She has been an ILCA member for many years and has been serving as one of the VP's of Canada on the Governing Board for many years. She sails mostly with her husband Michael Holly, and they are starting to race with their eldest son, now 8.
  
  Valerie started sailing Lightnings in 1997 as she wanted to go back to one design dinghy racing and to this day she confesses, "I am constantly challenged!" She has travelled to a few countries and many states to enjoy racing Lightnings and she enjoys meeting other Lightning sailors. "I have made many good friends through the years and I even met my husband in 1999! - I love the class and everyone's passion and I am happy to be able to help the class.  I hope to bring my outlook on the class' affairs, my management experience and some Canadian perspective."
  
  Thank you Valerie for your continued commitment to the Lightning Class!
  
  
• Lightnings Taking Flight in Peru…Literally!
  Thanks to our friend Jaime Calderon in Peru for sharing these pictures of the first Lightning’s coming into Peru after many years. It’s great to see the class getting reactivated. These boats were purchased in Ecuador, driven to the border to the town of Tumbes in Peru, and then airlifted to Lima...yes, airlifted. Thanks to the Peruvian Naval Aviation Division! I guess if you are going to restart the Lightning Class in Peru you should doing in style. On September 5–6, four boats (out of five) took part in the first regatta of the season.
  
  
• A-Sail Evaluation:
  The ILCA Technical Committee has released a statement on the current evaluation. Read the current thoughts and also the full background on how the evaluation was born, the testing, the roundtable discussion.
  
  
• It is with great sadness we learn that Dr. Steve Horwitz from Miami lost his stem cell transplant battle on Friday, Aug 14th. He was a great friend to the Class and many got to know him when he would give skin checks during the Southern Circuit. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Melissa and his entire family. He is going to be missed by so many. Sail on our dear friend.   Steve's Obituary
  
  
• Annual Winter Meeting
  All proposed changes to the Constitution passed.
  
  
• Actions taken during March Meetings: Governing Board Meeting
  Proposed amendment regarding the qualifying age for the Youth World (and Jr NA) Championship passed. Skippers and crew must be no older than 20; to clarify Skippers and crew may not turn twenty-one (21) years old during the year of the Championship.
  
  
• It is with sadness we report the passing of Rick Tears. Rick was a member of Rush Creek Yacht Clubsince 1971 and actively raced, crewed and participated at RCYC, as well as sailing events around the country.He sailed Quarter Tons, Shields One Design, Lightnings, J24s, and even co-owned a J22 with Dave Irwin. As recently as this Fall, Rick was crewing on Kathy Irwin’s IC24 and was an active participant, sailing Flying Scots, at Corinthian Sailing Club on White Rock Lake. Rick was an active and successful racer over the years: 1982 National Champion – Shields, 1st Place - RCYC Armadillo Cup (in the Trophy Case), 1983 ILCA President’s Cup at the Lightning NA’s, Represented RCYC many times in the US Sailing Prince of Wales championships, and competed in the US Sailing Mallory Cup many times. Needless to say, sailors will sadly miss Rick across the United States. Rick will be fondly remembered for his competitive spirit, knowledge of racing rules, and infectious laugh. To his friends, “Rick made sailing fun for a lot of people”.  A celebration of Rick’s life will be held in the near future. More information will be published as plans develop.
  
  
• It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Robert B. Cotton, Jr., MD. Bob died January 2, 2015 in Nashville, TN. Our thoughts go out to his devoted wife of 49 years, Anne and daughter, Elizabeth Matsui (William) and son, Scott Cotton (Thao). He Bob was a long time member of Fleet 262, Harbor Island YC in Nashville, TN where he also previously served as Commodore and helped to host and welcome countless Lightning sailors each fall for the annual Bluenose Regatta. He touched many lives and was known for his quick, dry wit, love of people, and boundless curiosity. He graduated from George Washington High School in Danville, VA, and attended the University of Virginia for both his undergraduate studies and medical school. Dr. Cotton began his career in Neonatology at Vanderbilt in 1972 as a Clinical and Research Fellow. He then joined the faculty in the Division of Neonatology at Vanderbilt University, attaining the rank of Professor in 1985. He served as the Director for the Division of Neonatology from 1989-2003, during which time he was responsible for training over 40 post-doctoral fellows in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. His research contributions have had long-lasting impacts on the care of newborns and he was an exceptional clinician and passionate teacher. A Memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 3 p.m., at Benton Chapel on the Vanderbilt University campus, with visitation after the service.
  Full Obituary